The term „competition equipment“ embraces all items of equipment used by the athletes in competition skiing, including clothing and implements that serve a technical function. The entire competition equipment forms a functional unit. In this connection the following points must be observed:

Competition implements refer to those parts of the equipment, which fulfil essential functions for the competition and which are separable from the competition.
Examples: skis, bindings, boots, poles, clothing, helmets, ski goggles.

Additional equipment (accessories) to competition equipment are those components or implements which have an influence on the technical function of the competition equipment and which are attached directly to the equipment by means of recognised fastenings. Accessories do not perform essential functions for the competitions.
Example: plastic tip covers, additional weights.

Auxiliary equipment refers to those components of the competition equipment which do not fulfil an essential function, and which do not fall under the heading of additional equipment.
Example: measuring instruments.

Skis employed in Freestyle competition events where the principal source of motive power is gravity. To assist with directional and speed control, the edges of the running surface are constructed from hard materials and sealed into the ski.

Safety bindings function as strain limiters. That is, these devices transfer specific demands occurring during skiing to an acceptable limit, and when this limit is overstepped, they release their firm hold to the ski. (See 4306.1.2, 4206.1.2, 4008.2.2)

The ski stopper is a catching apparatus for skis, whose function is to stop or bring to a standstill the loose ski following the release of the safety binding within the intermediate area of the skiers fall. In competitions and official training skis without ski stoppers are not permitted. Ski Stoppers must be mounted in such a way as not to impede the operation of the device. The manufacturer is responsible for a perfect function of the ski stoppers.

Ski boots are robust footwear developed especially for skiing, offering protection against jolts and bumps as well as injury from ski edges and other external causes. The ski boot encloses the foot firmly, while at the same time allowing the movement necessary for skiing techniques, in that the ankle has the room it needs to move, but at the same time allowing the transfer of every steering movement completely to the ski.

The relevant national and international guidelines and norms establish the requirements.

The ski pole is a sports article whose function should aid the skier, facilitate balance and, if necessary, enable stopping. The national and international guidelines and norms establish the minimum requirements for ski pole tips, grips, shaft, baskets, straps, length, etc. Due to risk of injury, metal baskets are not permitted.

Protection equipment including back protector or any other padding or body amour must be worn on the body and separate from the ski suit (outer wear). Protection and padding must not be built into the ski suit or attached to the ski suit by a zipper, Velcro or any other means. Fastening devices such as elastic straps, zippers, nylon straps, buttons, snaps, velcro, one or 2 sided tape, or any other methods shall not be used to tighten the suit material closer to the body or prevent the natural fall of the clothing.

The gap in the material must be a minimum of 80mm, measured everywhere around the circumference of the, of each leg from the mid thigh to the top of the ski boot and 60mm everywhere around the elbow and the bicep.

Ski Suit Measurement Method

Body position and stance for taking measurements:
Any athlete shall appear in full race wear with ski boots on. They shall stand with feet shoulder-width apart, in an upright standing position with arms relaxed at the sides, and the legs relaxed forward into the support of the cuffs of their boots. (“full race wear” includes all under layers and padding that is worn while competing.)

The measurement shall take place before or after each qualification run, as decided by the Jury and announced at the First Team Captains Meeting. The measurement shall take place after each heat in the Final by first measuring each eliminated competitor prior to exiting the finish area. All competitors in the Final and Small Final heats will be measured prior to exiting the finish area.
The material gap shall be found everywhere at the measuring control points, without stretching or pulling the fabric apart from the underwear.

The measurement tool shall be certified through the FIS Office.

Standardized measuring control points:

Lower Body:
Anywhere below the person’s mid point of the thigh to the bottom of the pant leg.
The pant leg must cover the top of the skier’s boot (top of ski boot is the area directly above the upper most buckle of the boot)

Upper Body:
Mid-bicep (mid-bicep is found by finding the mid-point between the tip of one’s elbow and the point on the top of the shoulder where the Acromion bone in the shoulder meets the head of the Humerus.)

For Ski Cross, the helmet shall fulfill the requirements applicable for GS/SG/DH helmets. However, specific elements outside of these requirements, which may be approved for SL helmets shall be applicable to Ski Cross helmets.

Further, the transitory rule applying for FIS races shall also apply in Ski Cross, in this case at all levels including World Cup and Olympic Games during the season 2013/14.

Ski goggles are devices protecting the eyes against weather and rays with optically correct lenses. Their aim is to guarantee good, contrast-free visibility in all weather conditions. The use of ski goggles is recommended.

Gloves offer protective covering against weather and external forces. The wearing of gloves is strongly recommended. Protective padding along the entire length of the glove is permitted. The use of protective guards in the form of shields, which are pulled over the glove, is permitted.

The back protector is an additional item of equipment, which protects the athlete’s back against weather and external forces. The use of back protections is recommended.

Specifications

The back protector must adapt to the anatomical bend of the athlete’s spine and lay flat against the body. The top edge of the back protector has to be situated in the area of the spinal column. Fastening of the back protector may take place with a stomach belt, straps or suspenders. The maximum thickness has to be in the middle part and may not exceed 45 mm; the thickness reduces towards the edges of the back protector. The back protector may be worn exclusively under the competition suit.